We have some discussion running on this saying of Jesus in another thread. Rather than clog up that thread - I want to start a new thread for it.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet, then turn again and rend you.
Here's what I propose Jesus is getting at:
Do not throw what is holy to dogs = this is an act of utter contempt for God and His law showing that you absolutely do not care about either God or His prescribed worship....
Juxtaposed with:
Nor throw your pearls before swine = Jesus seems to be indicating that throwing Pearls before Swine is ALSO having contempt for God and His ways... That God gave you this resource of Pearls, which, though "Abominable" are very valuable - and you, being a wise and thoughtful steward of what God had given you - should not have contempt and disdain for Resources that God has given you - even if they are "Unclean"...
The consequences in both cases is that the Animals may turn on you and rend you.... The dogs because they want more, and the swine because they aren't interested in pearls when they want food....
Here's how I got there....
First thing. This saying is given BEFORE Matthew 13 - where Jesus declares that He is teaching in parables to obscure mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. I will propose that this saying in Matt 7 is simply Wisdom and does not contain great mysteries pertaining to heaven.
I will ALSO propose that this was not crafted to be obscure or hidden to the Orthodox Jews of the day. The subject matter would be familiar to Jews who had even a passing knowledge of the Scripture and sacrificial system. It is obscure to US now because we are Gentiles and typically don't spend any time trying to learn the Old testament or Jewish sacrificial law....
Here goes....
Please refer back to Leviticus 11 - there is a declaration that Shellfish and Swine are unclean and are to be treated as abomination.
Please refer back to Leviticus 6-9 - specific directions for HOW sacrificial food is to be treated.
Please refer back to Deuteronomy 14 rules on food animals - which lumps dogs into the "Unclean" pile.
Now, this saying of Jesus is what we would call a Hebraism... Characterized by the juxtaposition or comparison of different ideas to make a point... Thus - we will learn what Jesus is getting at by not splitting out the two halves of the saying, but trying to understand them together....
OK... First Idea: Do not throw what is Holy to Dogs.
Leviticus 6-9 - When you had Food sacrifice - it was to be treated in a very specific way. Most of the Holy sacrifice was to be COMPLETELY Eaten by the Giver and/or the Priests... Typically only a small portion was to be burned.. There was a specific time period which you had to completely consume the food. If you could not consume it in that period - you had to BURN whatever was left over. Failure to comply and your offering would be REJECTED by God and either You or the priests would then bear the guilt for failure to comply.... Feeding the "Leftovers" from a Sacrifice to unclean dogs would be a SERIOUS and utterly contemptuous breach of God's Holy Ordinance....
So... Do not throw what is holy to dogs = this is an act of utter contempt for God and His law showing that you absolutely do not care about either God or His prescribed worship....
Throwing pearls before Swine.
In this case - BOTH Pearls AND Swine are Unclean and declared Abomination (Leviticus 11). If you were Orthodox Jewish or "Found God" and recommitted yourself.... AND you found or ended up with some Pearls - THEY ARE to be considered ABOMINATION! So.. As an Act of showing your COMMITMENT - you may decide to destroy such as Profane! Now... The interesting part is that the caution about treating it as "Abominable" means that you are to having nothing to do with it, nor to desire it.... but neither Pearls, nor Swine are a graven image or an idol... Clearly not something that's an item of profane religious significance....
The second idea is that throwing Valuable but "Abominable" pearls to likewise unclean and "Abominable" Swine is ALSO unwise.... Jesus seems to be indicating that throwing Pearls before Swine is ALSO having contempt for God and His ways... That God gave you this resource of Pearls - and you, being a wise and thoughtful steward of what God had given you - should not have contempt and disdain for Resources that God has given you...
Thanks
Matthew 7:6
Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet, then turn again and rend you.
Here's what I propose Jesus is getting at:
Do not throw what is holy to dogs = this is an act of utter contempt for God and His law showing that you absolutely do not care about either God or His prescribed worship....
Juxtaposed with:
Nor throw your pearls before swine = Jesus seems to be indicating that throwing Pearls before Swine is ALSO having contempt for God and His ways... That God gave you this resource of Pearls, which, though "Abominable" are very valuable - and you, being a wise and thoughtful steward of what God had given you - should not have contempt and disdain for Resources that God has given you - even if they are "Unclean"...
The consequences in both cases is that the Animals may turn on you and rend you.... The dogs because they want more, and the swine because they aren't interested in pearls when they want food....
Here's how I got there....
First thing. This saying is given BEFORE Matthew 13 - where Jesus declares that He is teaching in parables to obscure mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. I will propose that this saying in Matt 7 is simply Wisdom and does not contain great mysteries pertaining to heaven.
I will ALSO propose that this was not crafted to be obscure or hidden to the Orthodox Jews of the day. The subject matter would be familiar to Jews who had even a passing knowledge of the Scripture and sacrificial system. It is obscure to US now because we are Gentiles and typically don't spend any time trying to learn the Old testament or Jewish sacrificial law....
Here goes....
Please refer back to Leviticus 11 - there is a declaration that Shellfish and Swine are unclean and are to be treated as abomination.
Please refer back to Leviticus 6-9 - specific directions for HOW sacrificial food is to be treated.
Please refer back to Deuteronomy 14 rules on food animals - which lumps dogs into the "Unclean" pile.
Now, this saying of Jesus is what we would call a Hebraism... Characterized by the juxtaposition or comparison of different ideas to make a point... Thus - we will learn what Jesus is getting at by not splitting out the two halves of the saying, but trying to understand them together....
OK... First Idea: Do not throw what is Holy to Dogs.
Leviticus 6-9 - When you had Food sacrifice - it was to be treated in a very specific way. Most of the Holy sacrifice was to be COMPLETELY Eaten by the Giver and/or the Priests... Typically only a small portion was to be burned.. There was a specific time period which you had to completely consume the food. If you could not consume it in that period - you had to BURN whatever was left over. Failure to comply and your offering would be REJECTED by God and either You or the priests would then bear the guilt for failure to comply.... Feeding the "Leftovers" from a Sacrifice to unclean dogs would be a SERIOUS and utterly contemptuous breach of God's Holy Ordinance....
So... Do not throw what is holy to dogs = this is an act of utter contempt for God and His law showing that you absolutely do not care about either God or His prescribed worship....
Throwing pearls before Swine.
In this case - BOTH Pearls AND Swine are Unclean and declared Abomination (Leviticus 11). If you were Orthodox Jewish or "Found God" and recommitted yourself.... AND you found or ended up with some Pearls - THEY ARE to be considered ABOMINATION! So.. As an Act of showing your COMMITMENT - you may decide to destroy such as Profane! Now... The interesting part is that the caution about treating it as "Abominable" means that you are to having nothing to do with it, nor to desire it.... but neither Pearls, nor Swine are a graven image or an idol... Clearly not something that's an item of profane religious significance....
The second idea is that throwing Valuable but "Abominable" pearls to likewise unclean and "Abominable" Swine is ALSO unwise.... Jesus seems to be indicating that throwing Pearls before Swine is ALSO having contempt for God and His ways... That God gave you this resource of Pearls - and you, being a wise and thoughtful steward of what God had given you - should not have contempt and disdain for Resources that God has given you...
Thanks
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